A/N: Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction and made for no profit and only as a hobby and to give me and CB73 another reason to drink. The Characters and places belong to the Disney Corporation and not myself.

The 'Guardian' is NOT in the 'Once Again' ARC, so please don't ask me where Judge Snobblestone, or the Sake Sisters are.

What this story is...It's another look at the post graduation events. So there's no U. S. Army Rangers jumping out of any airplanes. It's about missed communications between several people and what one believes must be done to earn his place at another's side or at least that person's shadow.

I want to thank CajunBear73 for spending all this time working with me on the project. I can tell you that the chapters are shorter in length though I'm not sure it's an easier read. I basically wrote this a year ago with minor changes in the last few weeks.

I hope you enjoy the ride. It won't near as long as SL. So you all can relax.

ST-103

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The Guardian

Chapter 1

Middleton, Colorado

As Ron floated down towards his beloved, his blue aura faded and all the alien machinery fell to the ground and the disturbing blue aura began to disperse. Touching down, he held his hand to her, she took it. She jumped into his arms, burying her face in his chest. He felt her trembling, she was scared from what she just witnessed, it was just too much. The sight of two huge aliens being thrown at and through their space ship which was still at an altitude of a mile was hard for anyone to digest.

He could feel her fear. It was a good thing that she didn't know what they had planned for her, to make a trophy of her like a stuffed toy, or a conversation piece in a smoking room or something. Ron sensed her fear of him now, he must take it away from her. 'I must protect her.'

"Sensei KP knows. She saw me use the power. What should I do Master?", he mentally sent to his instructor.

"Stoppable-san I do not think that it would be a good idea for the world as a whole to know the true nature of the Yamanouchi School Kim-san may soon be able to put two and two together. Do what you need my friend.", he replied through the link as Sensei's image disappeared.

Making the decision for their future, Ron acted. He kissed her forehead and softly said, "KP forget." She trembled for a moment, then opened her eyes.", Ron continued, "KP, that was neat. How did you win? Wow you are the hero.", he told her with amazement in his eyes.

"Uh...I don't know, everything went by so fast.", Kim responded, "Everything was sort of a blur."

"KP you did it, you scared those two aliens away, they ran so fast that they collided with their ship.", Ron told her with awe in his voice.

About that time a crowd was beginning to form around the two lovers. They all started chanting 'Kim, Kim, Kim'. Ron just smiled and stepped back as her fans surrounded her. Soon a squad of GJ troopers showed up and backed the crowd off. Several members escorted Kim Possible off to be debriefed by Dr. Director.

"Ron I need you. Please come with me.", the heroine called.

"I'll be right here KP, don't worry it will be alright. Dr. Director will just think I'm in the way.", he called back

While this was going on the tweebs showed up. Jim yelled out to Ron, "We got it all on the satellite link, that was really cool what you did Ron. We already showed mom and dad. They both thought it was pretty cool too."

Ron looked at them and asked, "Really, can I see it? I mean KP really beat up those big guys, I'll bet they don't come back here." As Ron got to the computer, he noticed that Mr. and Mrs. Dr. P were watching the recording. 'Damn', Ron thought. He moseyed up to them and they all gave him a group hug for saving Kim. Again Ron's eyes flashed as they were in contact. "Forget Ron...Kim beat Warhok and Warmonga," he ordered his voiced echoed as his eyes turned light blue, "Don't make any more copies of what you have here and never show them to anyone else."

-

Nearly an hour later Kim was released by Global Justice until they needed her for further questioning. Sensing trepidation with his lady, Ron went over and grabbed her. He led her to the football stadium so they could finish their graduation. Go ahead KP, I'll be right behind you.", Ron told his best friend.

The audience gave Kim a standing ovation when her name was called to come up and receive her diploma. A few minutes later Ron's name was called, only his family and the Possibles applauded. He floated down in the rocket powered space suit that he had worn, during his rescue of his KP, he renewed his motto, 'Never be normal' at Middleton High School for the last time.

Vice-principal Steve Barkin handed Ron his diploma, "Couldn't hold it back one more day could you Stoppable?"

"You know my motto Mr. B: Never be normal. I'll probably never see you again sir.", Ron replied as he jetted upward after shaking his once tormentor's huge hand.

Afterwards, there were congratulations all around. Nervously, Ron noticed that Nana was looking at him funny. She pulled him off to the side and looked around before she asked, "Ronald, what did you do? I know Kimberly did not defeat those monsters. I watched you hypnotize James and the family from a distance. What is going on here? And don't you dare to try it on me, I've been trained to resist this 'talent' of yours." She noticed that his eyes turned blue again.

With his eyes still azure colored, Ron looked down into Anna Possible's eyes with his voice echoing slightly, "Nana, I can't tell you, but it's best that I remain in the background for KP's safety. If you want to know more then you have to ask Master Sensei."

Nana asked, "Yamanouchi secret?" Ron nodded. "Good enough, I'll talk to the old man and see if he'll let me have any straight answers, I won't ask you anymore." she finished, "Oh, and turn your eyes back to normal, someone else may notice."

After he talked to his parents and Hanna, Ron headed over to Kim, where she was talking to Monique. They were discussing what they were going to wear to their graduation/ beach party that night. Ron smiled again. He came up behind his girl friend and put his arms around her waist. Smiling, she reached up and rubbed his cheek. They were done with high school. No more Mr. Barkin, no more mystery meat, no more cardboard pizza, no more bans on PDA and most importantly no more detention. And a three month break before Kim started college. Ron softly slipped an arm around her shoulder. She looked at him for a moment with a small smile. "Well I'm not sure yet, I mean I want to go to school with Ron...but I want see a good school too ya know.", she told her friend

He froze. 'College....what way to ruin the day Stoppable. Can't not think about it for a whole day can you?', he thought, 'What can I do?' Trembling, Ron continued to hold on to the woman that he loved with all his heart.

The problem was though that Kim hadn't decided on where she wanted to go. Getting in was not a problem, every university in the world wanted her on their campus. She had been offered scholarships everywhere. Who wouldn't a highly intellegent, athletic young woman who was very beautiful and saved the world on a monthly basis. The problem was that Ronald Stoppable, the 'other' part of Team Possible had not been offered anything.

Dismally, Ron thought, 'she is going off to Europe or some place. I won't be able to go, since none of those schools want me over there. I can afford it. Kim doesn't know that the royalty check I got a couple years before was not the last one. I'm glad I lost a lot of that money the first time, now dad has it all in an account for me and after school we can do anything together. Well I can't go with her and it looks like no one wants the sidekick...I wonder if she's figured it out yet?', he continued to muse.

'I know that I can't hold Kim back, it would be unfair to her to try and do that, Lord what do I do? Any place I might be able to get in with my grades, well I know that she wouldn't be happy there. It won't challenge her enough. I know her well, too well. Kim has her own factor 'the have to be the best factor'. Oh well, at least we'll have some time together before she leaves. KP was right a year ago. We all have to grow up.' He was brought out of his thoughts when he realized that the two young women were talking about him.

"Mon we're having a great time and I got the best BF in the world, but for some reason he seems a little distracted.", Kim told her ebony friend.

"Don't worry about it GF. You knew that skinny boy was freaking about getting out of high school, he'll come around fast enough once he sees that new bikini that you got for him.", Monique Jenkins told her best friend with a wink, seeing that Ron had zoned out again.

--

Later at the beach, Ron was watching Kim play volleyball with some of the other grads. 'She's really beautiful.', he thought, 'It's a wonder I even had the chance to date her. We've been friends most of our lives, in a couple months I'm going to have to let her go. It's going to hurt, I just hope it doesn't hurt her. I couldn't live with myself if it did.'

Kim walked up to Ron holding out her hand, she whispered to him, "Come on let's go."

Everyone cheered as they ran towards the Sloth and took off. The last thing most the alums in their graduating class ever saw of them together was them sharing a kiss in the moonlight. A couple hours later Ron opened the door of the house for her and let her in.

Kim asked Ron, "You wanna come in honey, it IS your room? I already told your Mom since my 'rents told me about the offer that was made your Mom and Dad."

"Nah KP, I think I'll just crash in the tree house it's been a long day, goodnight I love you.", he replied as he held her slim form against his.

As he shut the door, Ron walked off. He had to think.

'I'm going to be alone.', he thought as he slowly walked by himself in the park, 'No I can't tell her the truth and I can't hold her back, what can I do?'

--

Not being able to sleep Kim climbed the ladder to the tree house nearly two hours later, only no Ron. She whipped out the Kimmunicator and punched the call button. Wade, in PJs, looked at Kim, "Hey what's up new graduate?", he asked.

"Where's Ron? Wade he's not in the tree house.", she replied.

"Just a second Kim, he's in the park. Looks like he's sitting down.", he told her after his fingers flew over the computer keyboard.

Kim scrambled out of the tree house to look for her boy. She ran until she came upon a lone figure sitting with his head in his hands. She stopped and watched him for a few moments. She wondered, 'Why did he leave? I've always been there for him just like he's always been there for me. He looks so vulnerable right now, why?' The heroine called his name softly. As he turned to see, she noticed his tears in his eyes being shown by the street light that was glowing near him. Kim rushed to him and held him tight. "What's wrong Ronnie?", she asked, "School's over and we have our whole lives before us. We've talked about this, we can handle this." She kissed him softy and held him, as she sat down with the blond haired boy.

"Our lives are changing KP, I'm scared.", he confided, "I don't know what to do."

Keeping a tight hold on her blond haired man she leaned her head on his shoulders as a small tear escaped her eyes.

Two lovers, wondering what life was going to give them, held on tightly to each other; just savoring each other's touch.

The next morning, well the same morning as it was getting light, Ron went over to the Possible residence after making sure that his love was tucked in his bed and sound asleep. He had already called Mr. P, since at the moment they were staying in the Middleton Inn, and told him that Kim was tired and he had put her up in his bed, when asked by her father as to where he was sleeping Ron told him, "In the tree house Sir. Mom and Dad told me you guys will be staying with us since your home had been destroyed and there was going to take lots of work to rebuild it."

Rufus came hopping out of the ruins carrying a special item. Kim's old Pandaroo, the plush toy that Ron had given to her years before. It was damaged. Ron knew he could fix it. Later he took the treasured plush toy home and spent several hours repairing it. Looking at his handiwork later, he thought, 'It's not the best, but at least Kim will still have him.'

Ron knew that his mom and dad where heading over there to get the Possibles ready to move in with them. Ron was preparing the tree house for himself and Rufus. That would free up his room for whoever needed it. They planned on putting Jim and Tim in the rec room in the basement. Slim would take the guest room and Kim and Nana could share Ron's room. Yep, it would work out pretty well. Ron made up a little card for Kim and put snuk into the room using his ninja skills and placed it on the dresser with Pandaroo sitting up holding it.

After Kim woke up, she noticed and grabbed Pandaroo. Holding it to her chest she went hunting for Ron. She planted a big kiss on her boyfriend as a very nice way of saying thanks. Ron fainted. Nana still looked at him in an amused way.

'It's going to be a long summer.', Ron thought after recovering, 'Too bad it won't be long enough.' For some reason the young red head didn't want to be away from her life long friend. She sent coy looks at him frequently.

--

Later that night, the rest of the families had already gone to bed, Ron sat up in the tree house and meditated. 'What should I do?', he thought, 'I can't hold her back, it's not fair and she would begin to hate me. What should I do?'After a while sitting in the dark, he noticed another 'presence', it was Master Sensei, the head instructor of the Yamanouchi School.

"Greetings Stoppable-san.", the ninja master began, "I feel trouble in your soul, tell me what troubles you."

"Sensei, KP is going to be leaving Middleton for school, I am sure of it. She's so accomplished and talented. Nothing around here will push her like Oxford or Cambridge will. I can almost feel her thoughts on this. I don't know if it's the MMP or just being around her so long.", Ron explained in the link to the leader of Yamanouchi.

"What would you do Stoppable-san? Hold her back? She has a path just as you have a path. Just because you have walked together so long doesn't mean that you will travel together for your whole lives. At times you may have to walk another road to find your true purpose.", he replied to the teen.

"Master what must I do. I have known her too long. I can't keep her here Sensei, that would be like keeping a beautiful song bird in a cage. One that deserves to be free to follow her heart. It would be a sin.", Ron explained, "I can't hold her back Sensei, if I did she would soon learn to hate me, she would hate me as if I was evil."

"But you are not evil Ron-san. Maybe you should have tried harder if you wanted to go to school with her later.", he advised his student.

"You are correct Sensei about my failing her, but it is too late to correct that now. She tried these last several years to make me work harder, but I wasted her time and effort with my laziness. I have failed Kim, Master.", Ron explained as his mind sighed, "It would be a sin for me to take this chance from her. That's not what love is about master. I feel I have to let her go, to become what she can."

Sensei thought for a few minutes, "I think you are right Stoppable-san, I see now that your path and Possible-san's path are not the same. She is destined for academic greatness, your path is different however. Ron-san you're path will be much more severe, I am sorry for this. I have had dreams about this happening for over a year. I feel you must show your love for Kim-san by letting her go on her own path, so that she can achieve her goals. She will make the world a better place if you do. However, you must prepare. To become what you are meant to be will entail you to cut yourself off from society. After she makes her decision on her school of choice, then it will be time to execute your own plans. These must be kept to yourself no one must know, for I now see you to be the 'Earth's Guardian'. I do not see another way to continue to protect Kim-san, for if she tries to fight more enemies I fear they will rob her of her life. That would truly be a tragedy, I am sorry Ron-san.", he sent across the miles, "But I think this is what we must accomplish......"

---

A couple of days later Ron invited his girlfriend of fifteen months up to the tree house. After she climbed up she noticed that a table had been placed there. She was amazed, Ron had cooked her a wonderful dinner. He had prepared roasted duck, his special potatoes and a nice mixed fresh vegetable medley on the side. That followed the soup and salad course. For dessert they had Ron's famous seven layer of heaven chocolate cake. All this was washed down with sparking grape juice. Ron had his boom box playing soft music though out dinner and the conversation that went with it. Afterwards, he asked her to sit and wait for a few minutes while he took care of the dishes. Returning, they cuddled and held each other. Ron looked at his beloved and saw the fire in her eyes; then she kissed him.

--

Later Ron pulled the blanket up over them to keep her warm and cover her modesty. She dozed off in her lover's arms, not realizing what the future would bring.

After this, Ron laid next to her quietly thinking about the past. He smiled, 'It was good while it lasted. I must make our time left together special for her.' Then he went to sleep holding his KP to keep her safe and warm. Rufus anxiously looked at his master as he watched the tears run down Ron's face after he kissed her.

In the morning Ron was up early making breakfast for the two families. He kept up his normal goofy, happy appearance. He continued to make everyone laugh even with the current circumstances. No more was brought up about the failed invasion, Ron made sure he kept a low profile on that. Kim was happy, she had her Pandaroo and her boyfriend. Soon she was going to announce where she was going to college. The media wanted to know and continued to bother her with the question. Kim finally told them she would make the announcement in a couple of weeks.

Ron looked into her mind, and could see that Cambridge was her favorite choice. Her mind was an open book to him. He could see her thoughts and had been able to for over a year. After a few days Ron got her alone outside. "KP,", he advised her, "you really have go to Cambridge. You would be happy there, it's your dream school. Not everyone gets the chance to chase their dreams. It will make you work hard, as hard as you ever had. You know with all the hard work and the villains hanging low you might want to think about taking Team Possible down because of the workload you'll be under. Afterwards, you could then make the decision to bring it back up or not after you graduate. That way you would have the option of deciding what the focus of the team will be."

She looked at Ron amazed, "What about you Ronnie? I know you don't have the grades to get in and I wanted to go to college with you. What are you going to do if we can't go to school together?"

Ron told her, "KP, this has been on my mind for a while now. Let's face it, you're going to be gone for years, I think I can get in to a Culinary school either here or in Japan. I just didn't work hard enough for you and I'm sorry, I can't hold you back anymore. You have to do this for you. Sensei promised to help me. I think I can get everything I need in four or five years of hard schooling, I will come out a Master Chef and have an MBA in business. So I won't be around much either. I've seen their schedule, it's pretty tough. I won't be coming back until I'm done either. They even have a ban on cell phones and computers for emails. So, I'll be out of the loop for a few years. What do you think KP? I was planning on telling Mom and Dad later today."

Kim looked at Ron, numbly, "No talking over the phone, no visits, no nothing?", she asked. Kim began to tremble as she finally understood what was happening.

"I'm afraid not.", he responded. "At least maybe I'll have made something of myself by the time I'm done, then I can provide for you. That is if you still feel the same way about us." There were tears forming in his eyes, 'Damn I don't want her to see me this way.'

Kim looked at him; there were tears in her eyes too, 'No Ron for years....What will he turn into? I won't wouldn't see that grin or those eyes for years. I won't feel his warm embrace, or hear his voice. God it will seem like an eternity.' It was too much for her, she turned away crying. She was mad. Mad at Ron for not hitting the books hard enough, mad at the school, mad at herself, she was mad at everything. Her fists were clenched, she wanted to hit something, and hit it hard.

Ron looked at his KP as she turned her back on him. Feeling lower than a snail in mud, he thought, 'Well that went well. At least she didn't beat the hell out of me. Still it was better this way, she gets the chance to become what she can be.' 'I have to become what I must be to protect her. Man it tanks though.', he thought.

Anne Possible watched her daughter, sorrowfully crying, come in the house. Anne stopped Kim, hugging and holding her until her sobs subsided. "What's wrong Kimmie, you look like you lost your best friend.", Anne asked.

Kim told her, "Mom, Ron's going away to school and I won't be able to see him for a long time. It's so unfair. What am I going to do?"

Anne asked Kim if it was any different with her going off to school and maybe not having time to see Ron for years either. Kim just stared at her mom. "Just what I thought.", her mom said.

Holy smokes Ron can do WHAT? Now should he be doing it?

ST-103